As this year comes to a close, it feels like an important moment to reflect on where All Ways Network has been and where we are heading.
I am delighted to be writing to you as the new Chief Executive of All Ways Network.
AWN was founded to solve a very practical problem: too many grassroots charities doing vital work were locked out of funding, networks and influence, not because they lacked impact, but because the system was not built with them in mind. Over the years, AWN has helped change that, from pioneering Meet the Funders events that opened doors to mainstream trusts and foundations, to hands-on support that strengthened governance, funding readiness and long-term sustainability for community-rooted organisations.
Like many small charities, AWN has also been through a period of transition. Changes in leadership and capacity meant that, at times, we were not as visible or as active as we would have wanted to be. What remained constant, however, was the clarity of our purpose and the strength of the relationships at the heart of this network.
As we look ahead, my focus is on sharpening AWN’s civic role. Funding remains central to our work, but it is not the whole picture. AWN exists to strengthen the social infrastructure around grassroots charities, helping organisations become confident, credible partners; helping funders better understand lived realities on the ground; and creating spaces where learning and collaboration improve funding practice for everyone.
Over the coming period, you will see AWN deepen its work in these areas, while continuing to act as a trusted bridge between under-represented organisations and funders across the sector.
None of this would be possible without the vision and leadership of our Chair and Founder, Ayesha Tariq. AWN exists because she saw both the injustice and the opportunity in the system and acted on it. Her continued leadership remains central to our direction, and I am grateful to be building the next chapter alongside her.
Whether you are a charity we have supported in the past, a funder we have worked with, or a partner we are yet to collaborate with, thank you for being part of AWN’s journey. I look forward to what we can build together.
Best Wishes,
Sayed Alkadiri
Chief Executive Officer